Signaling system.



N'0.- a72,71s. I PATENTED DEC. 3, 1907. 0. W. COLEMAN.

SIGNALING SYSTEM.

APPLIOATION IILED JUNE 22, 1906.

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PATENTED DEC. 3, 1907.

G..W. COLEMAN.

SIGNALING SYSTEM.

APPLIOATIONIILED JUNE 22, 1906.

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T if. ay'a Arron/MB- 7Ww% UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CLARENCE W. COLEMAN, OF-WESTFIELD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE HALL SIGNAL COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

SIGNALING SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 3, 1907.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLARENCE W. COLE- MAN, a citizen of the United States, a resident of Westfield, county of Union, and State of New Jersey, have invented a Signaling System, of which the following is a speci fication.

My invention relates to railway signaling systems employing liquefied gas such as carbonic acid gas as the motive power for actuating one or moresignals of the system.

One object of my invention is to provide means for actuating a signal by liquefied gasthat will avoid leakage of the gas and will thus increase the number of operations of the signal that can be obtained from a given stored supply of gas.

Another object ofmy invention is to provide means wherebythe gas may be utilized gas used to operate the signal. The gas contained in the tank 1 is preferably carbonic acid gas at or about the point of liquefaction. In the neck of the tank 1 there is screwed a coupling 2,provided with a valve opening 3, closed by a cap 4 and with a passage 5, the mouth of which can be closed by the screw plug 6. A gasket 7 and sleeve 8 prevent leakage of the gas, and a sleeve 9 protects the valve stem of the screw plug 6. A passage 10 is connected by the coupling 11 with the pipe 12, which leads to the automatic reducing valve. The pipe 12, by means of the coupling 13, is connected to the branch pipe 14, the branch 15 of which is connected by the screw'sleeve 16 to a pipe 17 leading to the high pressure side of the pressure gage 18. One arrow of the pressure gage indicates the high pressure. The gas passes through the pipe 190 and the nipple 19 into the low pressure chamber of the reducing valve. The nipple 19 is ordinarily closed by an automatic valve 20, which is secured by means of I screws 21 to a post 22, the post in turn being secured to a diaphragm 23, which diaphragm forms one wall of the low pressure chamber. The coil spring 24, which may be adjusted by the screw 25, presses against one side of the diaphragm 23. Communication is established between the low pressure chamber and the low pressure side of the pressure gage 18 by means of a pipe 26, the gas passing through opening 27. The low pressure is indicated by the other arrow of the gage 18.

The construction of the reducing valve is like that illustrated in the patent to C. W. Coleman, No. 810,262, of January 16th, 1906. From the low pressure chamber of the reducing valve the gas passes through a passage 28 into a pipe 29 and may go directly to the means for admitting gas to the signal operating means. The pipe 29 is preferably connected to the expansion chamber 30 by means of the coupling 31, and the expansion chamber is in turn connected to the gas admitting means by the pipe 32.

In order to operate the signal economically and in order to get as many operations as possible out ofeach tank full of gas, I provide a liquid link or seal, and suitable means whereby the pressure of the gas coming from the liquid supply tank may be transmitted to the liquid to actuate the signal. As shown in Fig. 1, the liquid 33 which is preferably a non-freezing liquid, such as a mixture of alcohol and water, is contained within a chamber having the walls 34 and 35. In the best embodiment of my invention, a diaphragm 36 is interposed between the liquid 33 and the gas pipe 37. Bolts 39, 40 firmly secure the walls 34, 35 and diaphragm 36 together, so as to prevent the leakage of the liquid.

In the particular embodiment of my invention illustrated upon the drawings, the chamber having the walls 34, 35, is located at the base of the piston chamber and the piston chamber opens into it.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated upon the drawings, the reservoir 41 is used "to keep the chamber having the walls 34, 35 full of liquid. .Should the liquid 33 leak beyond the piston 42, the reservoir 41 will supply enough liquid to keep the chamber full. A pipe 43 leads from the reservoir 41 to the liquid containing chamber, and a valve 44 is inserted in said pipe to control the supply of liquid. When the diaphragm 36 is subjected to gas pressure through the pipe 37, the pressure in the diaphragm chamber keeps the valve 37 closed. The piston 42, when gas pressure is applied to the diaphragm 36, rises and moves the signal blade 45 to safety. hen the piston 42 returns, the pressure in the pipe 37 having been relieved, free communication exists between the reservoir 41 and the diaphragm chamber, and the reservoir can supply any additional liquid necessary to the chamber.

Suitable means are provided which may be widely varied, for admitting gas to actuate the piston mechanism. I11 the form of the invention illustrated upon the drawings, an admissionvalve 46 is used to control the admission of gas through the port 47 that leads to the passage 48, which is connected to the pipe 37, at 49. The valve seat 50 is provided for the valve 46, and the valve is guided by guiding means 51, 52. A casing 53 is screw-threaded at 54 so as to be removably secured to the body portion in which the valves and passages are located. The inlet pipe 32 supplies gas to the passage 47, through the passageways 55, 56. A screw cap 57 is preferably provided, so that the valve 46 may be gotten out and replaced or adjusted when necessary.

It will be understood that the construction of the valve 46, of the valve chamber, and of the passage ways and accessory parts, may be widely varied. In the form of the invention illustrated upon the drawings, the valve 46 is connected by means of a stem 58 to an exhaust valve 60, so that the admission valve and exhaust are operated simultaneously. The exhaust passage 61 leads to the atmosphere.

Suitable means are provided for actuating the valve 46. As illustrated, a valve stem is pivotally connected at 62 to lever 63, one end 64 of the lever, being secured to a rod 65 which may be adjusted by means of the screw-threaded portion 66 and nuts 67. The other end of the lever 63 is connected to the valve operating means by a link 68, provided with an adjustable connection 69.

In the particular embodiment of my inven tion illustrated upon the drawings, an electromagnet 7 O is used to operate the bell crank armature 71, one arm of the bell crank being secured to the link 68 through the ad justable connection 69. Screws 72 serve as pivots for the bell crank.

, The means for controlling the electromag net may be widely varied. I have shown for this purpose an electric battery 73, and an electric circuit 74', that includes the electromagnet 70. A circuit closer 75 makes and breaks the circuit 74 so as to energize and denergize the electromagnet 70. The means for operating this circuit closer may be widely varied. As illustrated, a track circuit 76, with track battery 77, is provided,

the current from the battery 77 energizing.

the coils of the relay magnet 78. When so energized, the relay 78 attracts the circuit closer 75 and closes the circuit. When the train 79 is on the track 76 it prevents the current from passing through the track relay 78, and the circuit closer 75 is opened by the spring 80.

When the magnet 70 is energized, the admission valve 46 is opened, and the exhaust valve 60 is closed and the gas entering below the diaphragm 36, through the pipe 37, sends the signal to safety. No train is then on the section protected by the signal. When the magnet 70 is deenergized, the admission valve closes and the exhaust valve opens, and the signal goes to danger behind the train on the section. The signal blade 45 is connected'to the piston 42 by means of con necting rod 81. The piston 42 is provided with a stem 82, which is guided through the cap 83 that closes the cylinder.

With the above description of my invention and the operation already given, the operation of the various parts will be readily understood. My invention may be applied to normal danger as well as to normal safety systems. In the drawings, my invention is shown in connection with a normal safety system.

My invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the particular construction and relative arrangement of the parts herein shown and described nor to any particular form of apparatus by which the invention may be carried into effect, as many changes may be made in the construction and relative arrangement of the parts as required to adapt the apparatus to the circumstances of the personal views of the engineer employed to carry the invention into effect without departing from the main principles of the invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages.

Having thusdescribed my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a railway signaling system, the combination of a signal normally biased to danger, a local tank for liquefied gas, a liquid link, a track circuit and means controlled by said track circuit whereby the pressure of the gas may be transmitted to the liquid to actuate the signal.

2. In a railway signaling system, the combination of a signal normally biased to danger, a local tank for liquefied gas, a liquid link, means for replenishing the supply of liquid, a track circuit and means controlled by said track circuit whereby the pressure of the gas may be transmitted to the liquid to actuate the signal.

3. In a railway signaling system, the combination of a signal normally biased to danger, a local tank for liquefied gas, a liquid link, a diaphragm between the gas and the liquid, a track circuit and means controlled by said track circuit whereby the pressure of the gas may be transmitted through the liquid to actuate the signal.

4. In a railway signaling system, the combination of a signal normally biased to danger, a local tank for liquefied gas, a piston, a piston chamber, a chamber for containing liquid located at the base of said piston chamber and into which said piston chamber opens and means whereby the pressure of the gas may be transmitted to the liquid to actuate the signal.

5. In a railway signaling system, the combination of a signal normally biased to danger, a local tank for liquefied gas, a piston, a piston chamber, a chamber for containing liquid located at the base of said piston chamber and into which said piston chamber opens, a diaphragm in said chamber, and means whereby the pressure of the gas may be transmitted to the liquid to actuate the signal.

6. In a railway signaling system, the com bination of a signal normally biased to danger, a local tank for liquefied gas, a piston, a piston chamber, a chamber for containing liquid located at the base of said piston chamber and into which said piston chamber opens, a diaphragm in said chamber, a reservoir for supplying liquid to said chamber, a valve between said reservoir and said chamber and means whereby the pressure of the gas may be transmitted to the liquid to actuate the signal.

7. In a railway signaling system, the combination of a signal normally biased to danger, a local tank for'liquefied gas, a piston, a piston chamber, a chamber for containing liquid located at the base of said piston chamber and into which said piston chamber opens, a diaphragm in said chamber, a reservoir for supplying liquid to said chamber, an automatic check valve between said reservoir and said. chamber and means whereby the pressure of the gas may be transmitted to the liquid to actuate the signal.

8. In a railway signaling system, the com bination of a signal normally biased to danger, a local tank for liquefied gas, a liquid link, a diaphragm between the gas and the liquid, an admission valve, an electromagnet for actuating said valve, and means for controlling said magnet.

9. In a railway signaling system, the combination of a signal normally biased to danger, a local tank for liquefied gas, a reducing valve for reducing the pressure of the gas, an admission valve, an electromagnet for con trolling said admission valve, a piston and piston chamber for actuating said signal, and a chamber for containing liquid located at the base of said piston chamber and into which said piston chamber opens.

10. In a railway signaling system, the combination of a signal normally biased to danger, a local tank for liquefied gas, a piston and piston chamber, a chamber for containing liquid into which said piston chamber opens, said chamber being of larger crosssection than said piston chamber and located at the base of said piston chamber, a movable member adapted to transmit pressure to the liquid, and means for subjecting said member to gas pressure, whereby the signal may be moved to safety.

. 11. In a railway signaling system, the combination of a signal normally biased to danger, a local tank for liquefied gas, a piston and piston chamber, a chamber of larger cross-section than said piston chamber, into which said piston chamber opens, adapted to contain liquid and located at the base of said piston chamber, a diaphragm, the area of said diaphragm exceeding that of said piston, the parts being so constructed and arranged that a small movement of the diaphragm may be utilized to give a greater movement to said piston, and means whereby the pressure of the gas may be transmitted to the diaphragm.

12. In a railway signaling system, the combination of a signal normally biased to danger, a local tank for liquefied gas, a piston and piston chamber, a chamber for containing a substance which readily changes its form so as to pass into and out of said piston chamber, said chamber being of larger crosssection than 'said piston chamber and located at the base of said piston chamber, a movable member adapted to transmit pressure to the substance, and means for subjecting said member to gas pressure whereby the signal may be moved to safety.

13. In a railway signaling system, the combination of a signal normally biased to danger, a local tank for liquefied gas, a piston and piston chamber, a chamber of larger cross-section than said piston chamber into which said piston chamber opens, and'adapted to contain a substance which changes its form so as topass into and out of the piston chamber, said chamber being located at the base of said piston chamber, a diaphragm, the area of said diaphragm exceeding that of said piston, the parts being so constructed and arranged that a small movement of the diaphragm may be utilized to give a greater movement to said piston, and means whereby the pressure of the gas may be transmitted to the diaphragm.

14. In a railway signaling system, the combination of a signal normally biased to danger, a local tank for liquefied gas, a piston and piston chamber, a-chamber for containing a substance which readily changes its form so as to pass into and out of said piston chamber, said chamber being of larger cross-section than said piston chamber and located at the base of said piston chamber, 'a movable member adapted to transmit pressure to the substance, a track circuit and means controlled by said track circuit whereby the pressure of the gas may be transmitted to the substance to actuate the signal.

15. In a railway signaling system, the combination of a signal normally biased to danger, a local tank for liquefied gas, a piston and piston chamber, a chamber of larger cross-section than said piston chamber into which said piston chamber opens, and adapted to contain a substance which changes its form so as to pass into and out of the piston chamber, said chamber being located at the base of said piston chamber, a diaphragm, the area of said diaphragm exceeding that of said piston, the parts being so constructed and arranged that a small movement of the diaphragm may be utilized to give a greater movement to said piston, a track circuit and means controlled by said track circuit whereby the pressure of the gas may be transmitted to the substance to actuate the signal.

.16. In a railway signal system the combination of a series of insulated track sections, a series of normally closed circuits, each including a track section, a series of signals normally held at danger indication, and for each such signal a piston and piston chamber, a liquid link in said chamber and means for transmitting pressure through said liquid to actuate said signal.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CLARENCE W. COLEMAN.

Witnesses:

EDWIN SEGER, GEO. M. HARRIS. 

